Projectile.



A. BUREAU.

PROJBGTILE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE ze, 1911.

1,045,67 1 Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. BUREAU.

PROJEGTILE.

1 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2e, 1911. Patented Nov. 26, 1912- 4 sHBBTs-sHnBT z j .1. l .m v n a /6 7 M55@ @q w m w ...Z

A. BUREAU.

PROJECTILE. Y

APPLICATION FILED JUNE ze, 1911.

1,045,671 y Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A.BUREAU.

PROJEGTILE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 2e, 1911.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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AUGUSTE BUREAU, OF. LA. FEUILLADE, NEAR NIMES, FRANCE.

Specification of ALetters Patent. y wappueation mea .rune 2c, 1%11. serial-No. 635,273.

\ 1 PRJECTILE.

Patented Nov. 2c, 1912.

To all whom t may concern:

4 Beit known that I, AUGUSTE BUREAU, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at La' Feuillade, pres Nmes, France, have invented certain new and useful Improve- 'ments in Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

Starting from the principle that the most powerful explosives, generally used in the charges for shells aealso the most dangerous, and presentconsiderable danger. in their transport and manipulation, the object of 4this invention is to replace'the said charges by acetylene generated in .the proj ectileitself at lthe moment ofits projection, the dissociation of which acetylene, at the pressures to which it will be submitted, produces blasting 'effects and pressures five times as great as those that wouldbe produced by an equal charge of chloralted powder and almost equal to those of ,picratexoff potash (Berthelot `& Vieille). This charge does not present the least previous dan er, as it consists of granulatedcarbid ofy ca ci-um which can be kept for'an indefinite period ina closed vessel and is arranged in a special device owing to which the decomposing liquid elementwill act only after the projectile has been fired or thrown, and under the action of the pressure of the firing gases.

Several constructions according to this invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which-- Figure 1 is a section through the longi- -tudinal axis of a projectile constructed. ac-4 cording to this invention, Fi ..2 is a cross- 'section on the line A-A of Fig. l. -F ig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a shell of the' Robin type, in which the device according to this invention'is embodied in the form of a deflagrator. Fi s. Land 5 are cross-'sections respectively on t e lines 'B--B and C-C of Figt 3. Fig. 6 shows, also in longitudinal section, a penetrating shell, the inner charge of which is constituted exclusively accord' ing to this invention. The following figures represent a`. modifed construction of the rojectile, deslgned chiefly for beingutilized dui-.ing the travel of an aeroplane or similar aerial ap aratus. Fig, 7 is a section'through the longitudinal axis of the said' projectile, the insulating device of the constitent elements of lthea'cetylene gas being in its closed position. Fig., 8 is 'ay partial longitudinal section of the upper portion of the projectile,

the device in question beingshown in the- 'Figs 7 and 8.

open position. Figs. 9'-11 are cross-sections respectively on the linesv De-D, E-E and F-F of Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a partial vertical section showing a modified cconstruction of the device for closing theintercommunication tubes of the water and carbid receptacles. Fig. -13 Ais a vertical section showing a modified construction of the valve arranged at the upper portion of the shell shown in In all its applications and constructions, the essential device forming the subject of the invention consists in the projectile being provided inside with a water receptacle and a calcium carbid receptacle remaining insulated from, each other up tothe moment .of ring, and brought into communication either automatically by 'the firing itself (Figs. 1-6) or by` means of any suitable mechanical device (FigsL 7-12).

In theconstructions shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the device consists of a pistoni prvvided with packing segments or grooves, and

adapted to move in a tube 2 which terminates at june end in a perforated recess ar- .ranged in the breech of the projectile to.

which the device has been adapted. The other end of the tube -2 is perforated throughout a portion of its length' and passes through a receptacle 3 intended to contain a quantity of water'which thus penetrates into the said tube upto one of the .faces of the piston l. The latter rests with its opposite face on a spring 4 arranged in the tube 2. The wall ofthe receptacle through which the tube 2 passes, is conical and constituted by a series of segment-shaped elements 5 (Fig. 4) put on and welded along. their radial edges, so as, to form between them lines of breakage suitably distributed around the tube 2 and capable of yielding only under a given pressure.

Between the receptacle 3 and its end situated iii the breech of the projectile, the tube 2 is surrounded by a perforated annularV basket 6 containing a quantity of calcium carbid, and terminating in a funnel perforated-.at its endv corresponding to the re screw cap? screwed into the breech 8 of a shell of the Robin system. The said nut or cap 7 is provided with perforations 9 which establish communication between the rear face of the piston 1 and the outside of the breech of the shell. In the same construction shown in Fig. l, thel tube 2 is screwed into the ogival end 10 of' the projectile, which terminates ina nut 11 provided with a polygonal head facilitating its insertion. This ogval portion constitutes the outer wall of the receptacle 3. Between the outer cylindrical wall of the basket 6 and the corresponding inner wall of the projectile is nular space' being left between thel said inner and the outer portions, into which isl placed granulated carbid of calcium. The

funnel 13 of perforated sheet metal, which constitutes the lid or cover of the basket :is then placed in position. The ogival portion 10 of the lprojectile carrying vthe tube 2, is then screwed on the body 15 of the said projectile. The. projectile is turned over7 and into the tube 2 of the same is introduced water which fills the tank 3 and the tube 2 up to a level leaving an empty space equal to the length of the piston land of the spring 4. The said piston land the spring 4 are put in, The projectile is then ready for firing, and is provided inside with a charge consisting of separate elements each of which is harm# less by itself, this being a characteristic feature of the invention. When the projectile is to be used, it is introduced into the cham-- ber of the gun with the firing cartridge in the usual manner.

At the moment of the firing of the ,cartridge, there is produced in the chamber a very heavy pressure which is also exerted on the piston 1 and causes it to force back the water contained in the tube 2. -This water passing in an excessive quantity into the receptacle 3, brings aboutthe bursting' and widening of the cone .5f All the water contained by the said receptacle is then forced into the central portion of the basket and comes' into contact with the calcium carbid which is spontaneously decomposed,

acetylene gas being produced which, being in a closed space, is very quickly compressed jand reaching a very great pressure in a few seconds becomes heated to such an extent that the said acetylene is dissociated and fired. Berthelot & Vieille haveproved that the explosive` effects of acetylene under pressure, are five times as powerful as those of Ian absolute manner the arranged shrapnel constituted by steel balls` j with and and the screw cap 7 screwed on. enables the water to ex minate of mercury.-

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 3-5, the same device in smaller size is applied as a iring'device for insuring in explosion of the shell. of the device comprising the'piston 1, the tube 2, the receptacle 3 and the carbid basket 6, is inclosed in a casing 14 screwed in the interior of the shell, into the breech 8. -The screw cap 7 is screwed into the said casing 14, and secures the tube 2 between-it .and the bottom of the casing.

The fuse tube 16 which leads from a nose' fuse is curved so as to clear the casing 14. This fuse tube is used if it is desired'to employ an independent fuse but of course an independent fuse is not essential. j

The working is similar toithat of the construction shown linFig.' 1, andits action is the`result' of the increase of temperature of.

the casing ofthe cartridge and of its explosion.

to this invention to a penetration shell, as

shown in Fig. 6,- the shrapnel is done -away replaced by. a larger charge of calcium carbid which correspondingly increases` the power of the projectile and consequently its destructive effects.

In all of the above constructions, any ef fects that water might produce owing ,t0 a

'shock during transport, are paralyzedby the spring 4 which acts as a` dash-pot and pand without interfering with the 'tight jo nt of the water reservoir. l

In the construction shown in AFigs. 7-11,

the projectile comprises a shell constituted by a cylindrical body 1 preferably of tempered steel, at the ends `of which are screwed in, on the one hand, a breech 2', and

on the other hand a cover 3'. The said cover i is hollowv and constitutes a tank 4 in which a compressed fluid (air, carbonic acid' or the like) is stored and which is closed by.- a spherical cap 5 secured to the ange of the cover 3 by autogenous other suitable manner.y At a certain dis# tance from its lower end, the body 1 is V provided with a partit-lon 6- forming" between it` and the breech 2 another tank 7 into which water is introduced, vthis int'roj duction being effected through a plug 7, with which the breech 2- is provided` atthe center. The tank 7 is tinned or enameled inside so that lit vcan not become oxidized land so that the water can be kept for an indefinite time. Y l

The portion between the partition 6 and Hthe spherical cap 5", forms a chamber into which are placed baskets 8" 9 containing granulated calcium carbid andwhich are J In the said construction, the wholel welding or in any i arranged vconcentrically on one and the same bottom In the center and between these baskets spaces 12 and 13 are left communicating with a chamber 14 formed below the bottom 10, by means of openings 154 provided to that elfect in the said bot-l tom. At the moment of firing, the chamber 1,4 itself communicates vwith the water tank 7 by means of tubes 16', the bottom end of which is open and reaches close to the bottom of the said tank, whilst .the upper 'end of the said tubes is covered by a thin washer 17 .kept in place .by a slight tin soldering or other means so adapted that the said washer 17' may be brokenby a given pressure comin 'from the tank.

hrough'the center of thetank 4 and of the intermediate chamber passes longitudinally ,a tube 18 having its upper end screwed mto the casing of a cock 19 mounted on the cover 3 and held tightly on the latter 'by means of a'nut 20.

The lower end of the tube 18 passes with a tight joint through the partition 6', and

'ishprovided below the said partition with a series of holes'21, and endsabout half-way through the tank 7 In the construction shown in Fig. 12, the washers17 of the above construction are replaced' by a single disk 17 of an easily deformable material such as sheet tin, and slightly soldered with its circumference to the flange of the union 6 in which thetnbes 17..are'moun'ted, and with its central orifice to the tube I8.

The plug 22 of the cock mounted in the casing 19, acts as a cam for opening at the same time a valve 23 -and allowing compressed air to escape through the ipe or tube 18, as shown in Fig. 8. The said valve 23 is exposed to the action of a spring 24 having the tendency to keep it closed, concurrently with the pressure of the air contained ind the tank 4,. A plug 25 closes the o eningmade in the casing 19 so as to ena le'the seat of the valve 23 to be bored, and forms a guide for the latter. Another plug 26 closes the Vopening ofthe pipe or tube 18,.and a thirdplug 27 closes the'extension of the conduit 28'- through which. com ressed air passes-from the tank 4: to the va ve 23', and isused for dischargingcompressed air if it is desired to discharge the shell.

. The valve 23 can beconstituted asshown inFig. 13, that is to say, provided with a spider guided in the corresponding conduit of the casing 1 9', insuring perfect concentricity ofthe sald valve and lts seat.

Between the wall of the shell and the circumference of the carbid baskets, is ar- Y ranged an annular space29 within which is placed .a number of balls of tempered steel. A handle 31 is pivoted to the body 1" a little above the center of its height in or er thatfthe greatest. weight should be at the bottom. When the handle is released, it

falls undei` the projectile which then keeps its vertical position.

The assembling of the parts of the shell is effected as follows. The casing 19 is first secured to the cover 3 by means of nuts 20 and 30 which close hermetically the'openings through which the branches of the said casing pass. The tube 18 is screwed into the cas1ng19, and an air tight joint is l formed by means of tin soldering or in any suitable manner. The spherical cap is placed around rthe tube 18 and secured with its edge to the cover 3 and with its hub to the ,tube 18, by autogenous welding. The plug 26' is unscrewed, and is replaced by the union for the discharge pipe of an air compressing pump, the tank 4 being charged with such compressed air to .a pressure of 10712 atmospheres. This charging is effec'ted before the tank is mounted on the shell. The washer 10 is ,then introduced into the body 1 as well as the baskets 8 9 'previously charged with calcium carbid, and

the balls are then placed into the annular space 29. The cover 3 is screwed on the body 1 by introducing the tube 18 through the central hole of the partition 6', the said tube being of a length sufficient to engage with the said hole before the screwing of the cover 3 onlthe body 1 beginsig' The vessel ntendedfto receive the water having been previously tinned, as well as the tubes 16, the latter are screwed into the partition 6 and afterwards ixed by tin soldering, and the breech 2 is screwed on the body 1. The shell is finally turned over, the plug 7" is -unscrewed, and the tank 7 filled with I water. The plug 7 is replaced, whereupon the shell is ready for throwing or firing.

The operation is as follows: As lon as the plug 26 of the cock remains closed position Fig. 7) water cannot get into the central compartment of the shell, so that the calcium carbid remains intact, and the bursting of the shell cannot take place, even if the latter is dropped, or accidentally allowed to fall. This shell oifers therefore every guarantee from the point of view of safety, which cannot be said for shells with a charge of powder as used at present. At the moment of drop ing the shell during the Hight from an aerla .machine (aeroplane or neutral and its firing tank7, an'equilibrium of pressure will y `established in the vtwo tanks 4 and 7 which pressure remains fairly high and increases with that of the acetylene gas which,

during the first seconds, reaches that of thel increase of pres-- liquefaction. With that sure takes place a considerable increase of temperature to the extent of several thousands of heat units, which brings about the dissociation of the elements and the eXplosion of the shell y,at a pressure five times as great as those that would be produced by equal'charges of chlorated powder.

`This shell specially designed for aeroplanes and aviation apparatus, has the following advantages:

l. Complete and absolute safety in case of a bad 'landinfr of the aeroplane or aviation apparatus, the shell remaining perfect-ly device remaining inoperative. e 1

2. Terriic explosion after fall with projection of shrapnel and splinters at ver high speeds and pressures,`if the shell before being thrown has been set to eXplode.`

What I claim as my invention and desire to secureby Letters Patent is l 1'."v projectile provided with a chamber adapted to hold water, a 'chamber adapted to hold carbid of calcium, and means operated by the discharge of the projectile from two subscribing witnesses.

3. A projectile provided with a chamber adapted to hold Water, a chalnberadapted to hold carbid of calcium, a hydraulic piston -in communication with the Water chamber and with the rear outer face'of the projectile, and a fuse tube with a nosefuse for the purpose set forth. J

4. A projectile provided with a chamber adapted to hold water, a chamber adapted to hold carbid of calcium, a-chamber adapt- Y ed to hold compressed uid, means to connect when desired the Water chamber and compressed fluid chamber so as to bring the Water into contact with lthe* carbid of calcium for the purpose setforth.

5. A projectile adapted to hold water, to hold carbid of calcium, a chamber adapted to hold compressed fluid, a conduit con'- necting the Water chamber and the com'- pressed fluid chamber, and conduit for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof' I have signed my name to this specification in AUGUSTE BURAU. Witnesses: I

H. C. COKE,

GEoRGEs BONEUIL.

a valve in said the presence ofA provided with a chamber a chamber adapted. 

